Hoarding Season

Ahahah

A whole lot of All Sports sports drink. Well, a whole lot to last me till July; consuming maybe 3 bottles max a week. 

I think I got about 3 dozens of these. No, I'm not going to drink them every day. I try not to depend too much on these. Just water for any workouts less than an hour for me (or maybe Ribena for some sugary fix. heh heh) So enjoying this is restricted to longer runs over 10K. ^^

Gonna let a few runner friends a go. Been donating some to colleagues at work. 

Why the hoarding? The drinks are expiring on 30 July and the supermarket chain selling them are selling them cheap at RM1 a bottle! How to resist? RM1 for a 500ml imported drink. Cheaper than mineral water wor....

I've got all the flavours. Funky colours too - blue (the one you see green in the photo), pink (it's red in the photo), purple, yellow and orange. I like the blue one best. Raimie loves the purple one (he said it tasted like grape yoghurt) and know who loves the pink one? Not me but hubby! ;)

Breakfast Of Childhood

In continuation of previous' post. Last Sunday we went and be a part of Milo Breakfast Movement, I went for a 7K run and then the family enjoyed some breakfast (and a whole lot of Milo drinking) in UPM.

What's your favourite breakfast?

I haven't had this often nowadays but I love these two dishes. It's something I always had during the weekends when I was growing up in my hometown in Raub, Pahang.

 Laksam.

Not to be confused with Laksa Assam. Flat rice noodle served with a generous serving of white fish-based gravy(the white colour comes from coconut milk) and topped with ulam or raw vegetables such as shredded cucumbers, sliced long beans, bean sprouts, daun kesum... and then to make it tastier, a dollop  of sambal belacan.

Nasi Impit.

No need to eat with satay.

Just the compressed rice (hence the name impit) and peanut sauce.

Even for me, I only cook this once a year, for Hari Raya.

Had these recently and boy was I happy. ^^

Green Moss Invaded UPM

Like really. At the Milo Breakfast Run 2013. In UPM.

 

See?

Somebody mentioned there were 8,000 runners this morning. 8,000 of them and I guess 5,000 were already in front of me. @.@

Flag-off was supposed to be at 7.00am (but I think it got delayed by a couple of minutes) and I only passed through the start line at 7.11am! Whaaaaa???

I know. I know. Should've arrived earlier. We actually went out early. The race venue is just 10 minutes away from our home but at 6.00am we got stuck in a jam at the UPM Serdang toll area to get to UPM. 30 freaking minutes just to enter UPM! Then, got to find parking pulak. Then, somebody (me) gotta go find toilet and pangsai pulak. But cannot go because toilet got no water hose so had to hold the need. Wuuuwuuuwuuu T____T

Poor random volunteer who got accosted by me for photo op. Almost time for flag-off already but still can play around. *slap forehead*

By the way, the friendly volunteers along the route were AWESOME! Thank you!

Finally starting. I purposely chose to wear that red running vest so that I can easily be found in photos. LOL

Happy running couple, Bett and hubby. Bett's hubby said hi when he passed me just around KM1.

This same Bett told me that the route has just a little bit of hilly section. Hmmmm... TIPU! LOL

First KM was done at super duper easy 8min/km pace. Cannot run faster unless I shove people aside. Managed to pick up pace a bit after that but there were more walkers to contend with at the inclines. Anyway, can't be too annoyed with the crowd/runners/walkers. I know what I had to deal with when I sign-up for this. This is an event that vies for a record number of participants. What can you expect?

Someone poked me at the back hard around KM3. One uncle wearing purple GE running vest. Was I in his way? Or did he mistakenly thought I was his friend? Dunno lah since after poking me sharply, he just ran ahead and patted a girl's butt in front of me (I assume they knew each other). If I was in his way, aiyah... no need to get physical lah. Got runners who were slowing me down also but I didn't shove them what... Chasing podium izit? Start in front next time OK uncle?

Up hill, down hill, all packed with people. Decided to skip the first water station but I think the volunteers did a great job distributing the water since no massive congestion there. Then there was the first checkpoint to contend with. I really don't understand why people need to stop/slow down passing checkpoints. Scared the scanner cannot read your chip? Oh OK.

The second water station was after the incline at KM4(?). I could forgo this water station as this was *just* a 7K event but what the hey. People are slowing down. Lane was full. Another checkpoint was up ahead a few metres from the second water station (more people slowing down and more congestion) so I drank 2 cups of cold water there. There were PowerBar water stations after the checkpoint too but I opted not to stop there. Already drank water lah!

It was downhill after that which was nice but again, can't go too fast. I love downhills. I hate uphills. The only reason I did reasonably well (for my standard) at Newton Run last year was because I can blitz downhill at sub5min/km pace (yes, really) then did a 12min pace uphill. hur hur

An ambulance passed through us runners when I reached KM6. Ooooo I hope it's nothing serious. Heard one of the university's guard remarking "tak boleh lari tapi nak lari jugak" which means "the runner can't run but is pushing too much to run".

Runners had to run from KM6 onwards to the finish line in a single lane road with the other lane jammed with cars. A few runners decided they want to run fast and ran outside the coned area which i think is totally dangerous. Please observe your own safety runners. There were cars. There were motorbikes zipping along. What happen if you got knocked down by a motorbike?

At the final kilometre, somebody said hi. He was like "Kak Lina? Hi! Where's your bunny ears". LOL

Thank you Afzan Afnan for saying hi. (errr sorry I got your name wrong. Maklumla, Women Senior. Old already. ekekke) Next time we take photo together-geder, OK? :-)

Almost finish already. Just a few metres to go. Errr... what's that big thing the girl is carrying?

Smile. Smile. Almost there. Gaya mesti ada despite the slow timing. Muahaha

Medal collection, water & banana counter were smooth. I got greedy and took 3 bananas and 2 mineral water. Haish.

Then, while walking towards the goodies bag counter saw this two crazy fellas. Rashid & Aizat did the KL Tower Sunrise Towerthon Challenge earlier, finished climbing 2,000+ flight of stairs then drove to UPM to run 7K. Dasat.

After drinking copious amount of Milo and got scolded by son because of it, we sat down for breakfast. You see, I still have a bad cough and I was coughing like my "tekak" want to come out and yet I still drank cold drinks? Hmmm...

Totally unhealthy breakfast choice. There were 3 RM1 coupons in my goodie bag (visitors can also redeem those coupons by registering at the registration counter) and we used it to buy 3 roti canai. Other unhealthy food choices available : char koay teow, nasi lemak, roti jala... and there were also fruits sold, sandwiches... To tell you the truth, I was hoping to see Nestle opening and giving cereals for us to enjoy. Tarak wor.

Minum Milo anda jadi sihat dan kuat! HAHAHA I heart cold milo served by Milo vans.

The route we did this morning. Only now I realized that there is a big "jirat Cina" or Chinese cemetery along the road to UPM.

Didn't manage to meet a whole lot of people after the run because it was way too crowded. But anyway, it was a nice event. Cheap too. I had fun. I should have done better but I didn't. Oh well. Not going to lose sleep over that.

Now on to the next race. Standard Chartered Fun Run. 8km. Next week, In Putrajaya. See you there! ^^

Relax Time!

Soon.

Exam's almost over for Son. The Sekolah Kebangsaan's mid-term exam was over on Wednesday. Raimie's school had a Teacher's Day celebration today so no classes on for the day.

The Sekolah Agama (Islamic school) has a few more days of exams for son to finish and it'll be over next week.

Last week of May and the first week of June will be awesome because it's the school holiday! Yeay! Kids and parents rejoice! ;-)

Going Bananas On Mother's Day

Doing a relay run with the family on Mother's Day? FUN!! FUN! FUN! For this mommy, at least. And a few other mommies too, at the Pisang Relay Run 2013in Taman Buki Jalil. ^^

At 7.30am the warm up session begins, not the usual-from-dunno-what-gym-pumped-with-music warm up but a rather quiet, but usual pre-run warm-up.

Frank Chong of Running Lab giving a pre-race briefing here. He asked hubby where I was, while I was in the toilet. hehehe

Son whispered "mommy femes" to hubby as a few more people said hello to me and the family. Mommy femes ka? Takde la. Just happen that runners are one friendly lot. Right, runners? :-)

The friendly people who said hello:

 May from GC

 Shafinaz, an FB friend whom I finally met today. Thank you for dropping by my blog!

Tri Stupe and team, not only capable of caring for his banana, he's plenty adept with running and taking photos too, simultaneously. He's great with the kids too.

Guy and her awesome son who ran really fast despite the heat today. Well done! Future long distance runner?

Remember her and her posse doing the fun run at the World Kidney Run? The senorita? :-)

 Also Jason who was volunteering instead of running.

We were encouraged to bring our own bottle and cups and here's the refreshment table, with the teams'/runners' bottles.

All neatly placed.

It was a rather hot morning and we immediately face an incline at the start of the run. I was having problem breathing through my stuffed nose and breathing through my mouth really made it feel dry. After the incline of just a few hundred metres, I was already questioning my sanity running this. Such a wuss. huhuhu

Well, I did spend the Friday just sleeping off my flu/fever wooziness. Saturday wasn't any better either. But hey! Made it in one piece to pass the banana to Zaini, running 18min+ for the 2.72km loop (yeah, slooooowwww) and taking over camera duties from him.

A little later, he passed by at the halfway mark (the route made runners pass those waiting at the start line at the halfway point, which is good - for morale/support boost & also for photo taking) and Raimie & I prepared for Raimie's turn and waited at the start line.

Son didn't actually need to have Mommy tagging alongside him, and he reckoned that he'll do fine without a "pacer" but Mommy didn't mind. At the very least, Mommy can help hold a water bottle for him and give him a drink when he's thirsty. He's been such a support for Mommy that Mommy wanted to return the favour. ;)

So we ran together and that boy, despite telling me that's he's tired or that's his heart felt like it wanted to burst or that his legs hurt, didn't stop yapping all through the run. Yup, we talked and chatted a lot. He can talk, that boy.

He kept complaining that I ran too fast but then, he also told me that it's nicer to run with me than Daddy. Sssshhh don't tell the Daddy. LOL Daddy doesn't care much of all his shenanigans,  that's why. Mommy pulak is always a sucker for her boy, y'know. ;-)

Some photos of the baton/banana passing:

 Let go of the pisang, Stupe! LOL

 Pi & Sang, stealthily doing the handing over.

The Nippon mari Acorn Team (well, they wore a running vest with an acorn logo) with yup, a banana on the runner's head. Mighty fast banana, I might add.

Boring runner banana passing style. ekeke

My nose got cleared up doing the second loop (third one for the family, first loop for Son) so running thereafter felt easier. Thank goodness. *wipe sweat*. Finished with son after his first loop and immediately ran off to do the second loop for the team. By this time, I already ran about 5.40km (sikit saja) and on to do another 2.70km. Rested and took photos for abit after my loop and hubby did his, before it was time for Raimie to do the final loop and I tagged along.

Son & hubby ran 2.72km twice, and I the glutton ran a total of 11km. Fun in the sun run. :-) The family took a total of 2hours and 5minutes to complete six 2.72km loops (approximately 16.32km) but who cares? We had FUN!

All loops done, and it's time to collect the nice medal. Every runner received a medal. If shaped like a banana, nicer hor? But this one also nice lah. ^^

Then, makan time!

Got fried bihun, got sandwiches, got kueh-mueh, got fruits. Eat, eat, eat. Raimie was sure super hungry after the run and walloped quite a bit of food. (p.s photo is not of Raimie Heh heh)

Then, we waited around for the lucky draw,

We weren't lucky enough to enough to get anything though. Booohooo!!!!

Two boys very happy completing their run.

Raimie asked me whether the venue would still be at Taman Bukit Jalil next year when we were on our way back home. He said he wanted to join again next year.

And that, is what I consider a successful run. Son having a blast and actually looking forward to another one. So, thank you to the race organiser and also to the volunteers, especially to the ones blasting/spraying us with cooling water on the route. 

Hope to see you again next year! Pisang or no pisang. ^^

p.s. Taman Bukit Jalil has a lot of monkeys (real ones) and I guess they sure were kenyang on Sunday because all the lembik bananas got "donated" to the monkeys.